‘How to Train Your Dragon' Is a Dazzling Fantasy Epic
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon is a sweeping, faithful adaptation of the animated franchise's world inspired by the original books by Cressida Cowell. Director Dean DeBlois, who helmed DreamWorks' original trilogy, imbues the heart of the beloved franchise and captures the magic of the series with new dramatic depth. The new take grounds the coming-of-age story in a visionary opening entry that invites new and old fans to a Viking world where dragons could actually exist.
Mason Thames (The Black Phone) is Hiccup made real; he's the audience's endearing conduit to see dragons in a different light than his Viking family—who actively hunt the awe-inspiring but dangerous mythical monsters—does. His meeting with Toothless, who is just an adorable gentle giant of a Nightfury dragon, is still such a powerful hook into the tale of love, survival through community, and balance with the different kinds of lives around us. Hiccup's journey from dragon slayer to dragon trainer remains as timeless as ever.
The father and son relationship between Hiccup and his dad Stoick remains a central part of the narrative. Gerard Butler reprises his role from the animated film but adds even more layers to it, digging into the push and pull of parenting a child on the verge of adulthood and the expectations that come with it. The gruffness is there with Butler's mannerisms as a Viking leader, but there's pauses where his vulnerability as a performer truly shines opposite Thames. No parent is perfect and Butler brings a more nuanced take on the cartoon character that is powerful and heartfelt. It brings a timelessness to the core conflict in the film as he pushes for a world that is set on dragons being the enemy, and this resonates deeply within the father-son relationship, especially in a world that needs to push fear aside and change like Hiccup does.
Through the lens of Bill Pope, the fantastical worldbuilding of the Isle of Berk is given new life as a place you can really see Vikings and dragons duking it out. The cinematography in collaboration with DeBlois' vision soars to craft one of the best family fantasies yet. It's an exciting adventure that sets up the ensemble stories we can't wait to see continue to unfold. Astrid, played by Nico Parker, shines brightly in a standout performance embodying the leader Hiccup sees himself uplifting in their romance.
Parker's chemistry with Thames only makes us so much more excited for what's to come for the two romantic leads as they meet each other's worldviews for a better Viking future. We don't get as much of the supporting characters as fans of the franchise might have wanted—but that fact does bring into question whether or not the film franchise might branch out into series in between the planned sequels, much like the animated films did with their cartoon series centering the dragon trainers bridging the gaps.
Berk's rich lore is ripe for exploration and DeBlois masterfully reignites the fire of his beloved universe for a new generation. Overall, How to Train Your Dragon delivers an epic adventure that lays the groundwork of Toothless and Hiccup's story. The CG animation on Toothless retains his familiarity from the animated movies of an adorable cat/dog energy—but make it dragon—and it works seamlessly in this fresh new take on the franchise.
Full of heartfelt storytelling, How to Train Your Dragon evokes the feeling of a journey that is just beginning, with the perfect blend of nostalgia in an imaginative but familiar world. DeBlois expertly fuses the emotional core in Cowell's book series with his knack for animated storytelling through the CG visuals of the film, which brilliantly raises the stakes in the film's epic and action packed dragon battles.
I'm so ready for How to Train Your Dragon II, and as a fan of the franchise, eagerly anticipate the release of my favorite in the series (the Easter eggs!). For a fun time at the movies with your kids, or even just the kids at heart, How to Train Your Dragon is a must-see quest.
How to Train Your Dragon opens June 13.
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Movie Review: ‘How to Train Your Dragon' might have just redeemed the live-action adaptation
Ever wanted to soar through the skies on the back of a friendly dragon? The new 'How to Train Your Dragon' may be the ticket, from a decidedly safer, though possibly still vertigo-inducing, distance. This live-action adaption of the underdog adventure story sends the audience cascading through the clouds with the teenage Viking boy Hiccup and his dragon friend Toothless. It's the kind of immersive sensation and giddy wish fulfillment that might just have you forgetting momentarily to breathe and, maybe more importantly, that you're still in a movie theater. Credit to veteran cinematographer Bill Pope, no stranger to fantasy worlds, whether it's 'The Matrix' or 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.' 'How to Train Your Dragon' doesn't stray far from the original, from shots to story beats. Gerard Butler once again plays Berk's Chief Stoick the Vast. The new Hiccup, actor Mason Thames, even sounds a bit like Jay Baruchel. But unlike so many live-action remakes of animated films, it also doesn't feel superfluous, or, worse, like a poor imitation of its predecessor that trades the magic of animation for photorealism. Perhaps that's because filmmaker Dean DeBlois, who made the three animated films, stayed in the director's chair. Who better to kill their darlings than the one who brought them to the screen in the first place? And, crucially, to know where live-action might actually enhance the fabric of the world created by author Cressida Cowell. It helps that dragon technology has come a long way since, say, 'DragonHeart.' These fire-breathing CG creatures feel disarmingly real. And though it might look like 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Game of Thrones,' the tone stays light enough for younger filmgoers. There are a few intense sequences, but none that takes it any further than the animated film did 15 years ago. 'How to Train Your Dragon' does start a little slow, however, which is odd because it also begins with a fiery battle between the Vikings and the dragons on the Isle of Berk. There's a lot of exposition and introduction that needs to happen before you can just give yourself over to the story. In this more multicultural version, the warriors on Berk have been recruited from tribes around the globe to try to defeat the dragons. Hiccup is a Viking nepo baby. As the chief's son, he sits in a place of privilege, but he's also a general outcast in this world of ruthless warriors — skinny and weak, he just longs to be part of the action, not sharpening the weapons. Killing dragons is currency in this society, and his crush Astrid (Nico Parker) happens to be one of the most promising up-and-comers. His sole champion is Gobber (a delightful Nick Frost), the blacksmith and dragon slayer teacher, who convinces the chief to give the clever Hiccup a shot. The film finds its internal engine when Hiccup finds Toothless, the wide-eyed 'Night Fury' dragon whom he can't bring himself to kill. Instead, he decides to study this discovery, who he finds is not as nearly fearsome as everyone assumes. 'How to Train Your Dragon' teaches empathy and ingenuity without a sermon. Thames, a teenager himself, is the perfect embodiment of adolescent awkwardness and boldness. You can have all the cute dragons you want, but the audience would be lost if the human conduit to the relationship isn't up to the task. Butler seems to be having a good time, resplendent in fur and chest-thumping ideas about ancient duties. And Parker gives Astrid a relatable depth — the best in the bunch who is outshone in an unequal fight. Kids deserve movies that are made on the biggest possible canvas. 'How to Train Your Dragon' is one that's worth the trip to the theater. It might just spark some young imaginations, whether it's to go back and read the books or dream up their own worlds. And, chances are, no one is going to be yelling 'chicken jockey.' 'How to Train Your Dragon,' a Universal Pictures release in theaters Friday, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for 'sequences of intense action and peril.' Running time: 125 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.
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an hour ago
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an hour ago
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‘How to Train Your Dragon' is the best live-action adaptation ever, but some parents may hate it
Now this is how you make a live-action adaptation of a beloved animated classic. While Disney's live-action remakes of films from its animated library have been a mixed bag, DreamWorks' reimagining of its 2010 'How to Train Your Dragon' is the first that actually might be better than the original. Directed by Dean DeBlois, the filmmaker behind not only all three 'Dragon' animated films but also the original ' Lilo & Stitch ' (2002), the new version excels because it makes its teenage protagonist deeper and more mature — and its monsters extra frightening. In fact, this 'How to Train Your Dragon,' while rated PG feels like PG-13 and might be too scary for some children, even those who love the original animated feature. These CGI dragons are truly terrifying. But with 'Jurassic World Rebirth' arriving in theaters soon, that's the cinematic world we live in. The story remains mostly unchanged. Hiccup (Mason Thames, star of ' The Black Phone '), the sensitive, peace-loving son of the fierce Viking king Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, who voiced the same character in the animated films), struggles to find his place in Berk, the seaside mountain village that is under constant threat from dragon attacks. Stoick, disappointed in Hiccup, hopes to toughen the kid up by enrolling him in dragon-fighting school. Among his classmates is his school crush Astrid (Nico Parker) and the jocular Fishlegs (Julian Dennison, seen earlier this year in ' Y2K ' and the star of 2016's ' Hunt for the Wilderpeople '). Hiccup's desire to kill dragons takes a serious hit when he meets Toothless, a small dragon caught in a trap in a wooded area. Instead of killing the dragon, Hiccup frees him, then makes daily visits to understand the creature. The movie doesn't succeed unless the dragons are good, and the team behind this 'How to Train Your Dragon' hit the mark. The CGI work and DeBlois' swooping, dizzying camera work — this is the director's first live-action film — during the battles are top notch. While the story is predictable even to those who haven't seen the original, the strength of this remake is its thematic plea for cultural understanding and the art of diplomacy. For generations, it's been dragons against humans, but why are dragons attacking? The Viking king is right to strengthen his village's defenses, and to train his subjects in the art of war. But is war the only solution or is there another way? As Hiccup, the 17-year-old Mason is sensitive and appealing, a young boy who goes from dazed and confused to meeting the moment — and teaching dad a thing or two. Butler brings some touching moments to the proud king's gradual understanding of his son.
